UAE Says Drone Strike Caused Fire Outside Barakah Nuclear Plant
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said military activity near nuclear plants is unacceptable as the agency tracked the fire and offered assistance.
- On Sunday, May 17, 2026, a drone strike hit an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, causing a fire. Authorities confirmed no injuries occurred and essential systems remained operational.
- The UAE has faced repeated drone and missile attacks targeting civilian and energy infrastructure since the February 28, 2026 war between the United States and Iran began. This strike reflects heightened regional tensions amid the ongoing conflict.
- IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed "grave concern," stating "military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable." One reactor briefly relied on emergency diesel generators, though radiological safety levels remained normal.
- Investigating the source of the attack, Emirati authorities said no group claimed responsibility and the UAE did not publicly blame any party. The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry emphasized it "will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty."
- The incident underscores how fragile the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains as diplomatic efforts stall. Observers fear renewed conflict could reignite, destabilizing the region and critical energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
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354 Articles
In a drone attack in the United Arab Emirates, a fire broke out in the area of a nuclear power plant.
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Business TimesOil touches 2-week high after drone attack on UAE nuclear power plant
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Drone attack on UAE nuclear facility sparks regional tensions
FILE – This undated photograph released by the United Arab Emirates’ state-run WAM news agency shows the under-construction Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi’s Western desert. (Arun Girija/Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation/WAM via AP, File)People walk past a mural depicting a U.S. aircraft carrier under missile attack in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)A man collects his family’s belongings from the r…
[Yomiuri Shimbun] [Cairo - Ai Murakami] Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on the 17th that a generator near the Barakah nuclear power plant in western Emirates was attacked by a drone and caught fire. There have been no changes in radiation levels in the surrounding area. No injuries have been reported.
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